If you were on campus last Thursday, you might have noticed various booths covered in red and gold decorations placed throughout the quad in front of the Bizzell Memorial Library. Visiting the booths were numerous men, women and children who gathered to celebrate the Chinese Culture Festival and Confucius Institute Day on the OU campus. Visitors bounced from booth to booth as beautiful Chinese music echoed between the university buildings surrounding the event.
Confucius Institute Day, an annual event that honors the anniversary of the Confucius Institute and Confucius’ birthday, is part of a week’s worth of activities that celebrate China Week at the University of Oklahoma. The festivities provide the OU community with a fun opportunity to learn about Chinese culture and often include free food, music, performances and more.
On Thursday, each booth featured a different piece of Chinese culture and included ways for event-goers to actively participate in their learning experience. Some booths allowed visitors to practice calligraphy, try Chinese knots, learn traditional Chinese games, play musical instruments and serve tea, just to name a few.
